Metro Labyrinth - CH 36

As night falls, the rain lifts, the clouds dissipate, and the stars peek out.

Tamiko and I climb to the roof of the inn and look down on the cityscape.

Orange streetlights flicker and twinkle against the wet exterior walls and ground. From the second-floor roof, it is not enough to see the entire city, but the lights leaking from the windows of the rows of buildings go on forever. The amount of light is not comparable to the nightscape of the Tokyo I know, but I feel as if I can feel the breathing of the inhabitants.

“The town is squeak shiny… So beautiful…” (Tamiko)

Tamiko, who was sitting next to me, was overcome with emotion.

“By the way, you said it a long time ago. You hope to see the shinning city of humans.” (Shuu)

“Squeak?” (Tamiko)

“I’m glad, another dream of yours came true.” (Shuu)

“I’ve eaten delicious food, squeak, I’ve walked around the city, I’ve seen the stars and the Sun, squeak… This is the land of my dreams, squeak.” (Tamiko)

I lie on my back on the roof. The roof is made of cement shingles, not tiles, and it feels slightly damp and cool.

“Tamiko, what do you want to do after this?” (Shuu)

“Squeak?” (Tamiko)

“Well… you made some of your dreams come true, so what kind of life do you plan on living in the future? What are you planning? Learn more about Magic Beasts? What do you want to accomplish?” (Shuu)

Hmmm, Tamiko with her arms crossed and her head tilted.

“I’d like to visit Nakano Forest, even if it’s not now, squeak.” (Tamiko)

“You won’t be visiting. You’ll be going home.” (Shuu)

“I can either stay or return home, right, squeak?” (Tamiko)

“That’s right.” (Shuu)

“I want to return and live here, squeak.” (Tamiko)

“You want to live in Sugamo? It sure is a nice town.” (Shuu)

Tamiko runs up my arms and sits on my shoulders. She plants herself there.

“This is my place, squeak.” (Tamiko)

Tamiko’s eyes narrow and she smiles as she turns to look at me.

“…You might get involved in something troublesome if you stay with me.” (Shuu)

“Then, I’ll do something about it, squeak. Abeshuu needs me to be better, squeak.” (Tamiko)

“…That’s encouraging.” (Shuu)

“Hehehe!” (Tamiko)

It’s me flattering you or anything. It’s true.

“I’m sure you’ll be with me from here on out. Once again, take care of me Master.” (Shuu)

“Squeak care of me too, my Padawan. Abeshuu!” (Tamiko)

She seemed to have remembered that word I said some time ago. May the spores be with you. [T/N: lol]

The contract between the two of us has made five years ago.

I will bring her to the surface. And for that, she will guide my growth.

We renew it again, in a slightly different form.

I rubbed my face in embarrassment.

The tiny weight on my shoulders is the most reassuring and irreplaceable thing I have ever felt. I am reminded of this once again.

(This was just the beginning.) (Shuu)

(So… again with this guy.)

The will that I had lost until a few moments ago, is now united into a single answer.

“—Oh, there you both are.” (Noa)

Noa peeks out from the edge of the roof. She climbs up and sits down next to me.

“I wonder if it’s okay for a girl in a yukata to climb up on the roof?” (Shuu)

“You too Abe-san. Just like the others, you know that’s what’s called gender discrimination these days.” (Noa)

“I guess there are things like that in every generation.” (Shuu)

Noa takes out three rice crackers from her bosom and hands them to Tamiko and me. It’s a little warm, and I’m very confused about whether to bite or sniff it. Tamiko is nibling and chewing without hesitation.

“Are you thinking about the future?” (Noa)

“Well…” (Shuu)

If you want to hide your identity as a [Itokuri-shi] and live peacefully, there are two paths before me.

The first one. Live as a Free Folk who does not belong to any organization.

A Free Folk is a person without a registered family (in this sense, he is a freeman at this point). A family register is tied to each tribe’s territory or city, but without it, one cannot use public services or open a bank account in any city (instead, one does not have to pay taxes).

If I can find a small village somewhere, I can settle down and live there, and it is extremely unlikely that the world will find out that I am a [Itokuri-shi]. In a sense, it is the slow life of hunting and farming that I long for.

Second. Get a family register somewhere and live as one of “the people”.

It is not so difficult for Free Folk to obtain a family register. They can settle down as a citizen of a territory and get some kind of job. I am concerned that I am not familiar with the knowledge and common sense of this period, but if I work hard, I should be able to lead a relatively stable life (I hope). The possibility of being discovered as a [Itokuri-shi] may be a little higher than in the first option, though.

Apart from the first two, there is a third way, which is to live by revealing my identity as a [Itokuri-shi].

As mentioned earlier, there will be many difficulties and troublesome situations. In some cases, even one’s life may be in danger.

There are three [Itokuri-shi] in existence. The Governor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The Metro Church. And the chief of the Nerima Tribe.

Relying on a tribe is risky, but what about the Governor and the Founder? If they can be successfully convinced, they may be able to guarantee my safety. If I can demonstrate my abilities, I may even be offered important posts.

It is truly a high-risk, high-return adventure.

Well, whether it is a desirable path for me or not is another matter.

“Well… the most realistic one is the second one. If my main goal is to live in peace and quiet.” (Shuu)

“That’s right… I think that’s the safest one too.” (Noa)

“Right?” (Shuu)

I would like to meet them eventually. To people who lived in the same era as me. I think I can’t avoid that part.

But I feel that it would be reckless to do so right now. I think it is not too late to broaden my knowledge of this world, increase my allies, and solidify my footing. Especially if they have [Immortality] and are literally half-immortals.

Noa lies down next to me. I feel wiser knowing that this girl is a girl who smells good no matter what time of year it is.

“Why did Noa become a hunter?” (Shuu)

“What?” (Noa)

“Because you’re already a hunter at the age of eighteen. It is so hard and dangerous that I wondered why you chose this path.” (Shuu)

In this country, a hunter is a professional who makes his living by searching the Metro and hunting Metro Beasts. In particular, they are not some freelance agents but are generally authorized members of guilds.

Although guild members are obliged to pay guild dues and contribute to the area they belong to, they can sell their products at a fair price even if they have no contacts in the market, and they can accept private requests for work (such as solving animal damage).

Noa pauses for a few seconds like she is choosing her words carefully.

“… I think my great-grandfather’s influence is the biggest influence. My great-grandfather was also originally a hunter…” (Noa)

“I see. I thought he was more of a scholar or researcher.” (Shuu)

“I lost my parents when I was very young and was raised by my great-grandfather, who was a hunter… When I was eight years old, he took me to the Metro for the first time and taught me about the knowledge and skills of the hunter. He taught me so that I would be able to live well on my own someday when he was gone… ” (Noa)

Her squinting profile was like someone searching for something in the myriad lights of the city.

“I had to live alone because my great-grandfather died eight years ago. I became a hunter five years later because the age requirement is fifteen and above.” (Noa)

“Wasn’t it difficult?” (Shuu)

“It was hard. It looks glamorous at first glance, but in the field, it’s known as the 4Ks, which means hard, smelly, dirty, and dangerous [T/N: or kitsui, kusai, kitanai, and kiken.]. When I made my debut, I was at level 16, and I was a newcomer in this industry, and I still am. I almost died many times, like the day before yesterday, and people looked at me like I was just a child.” (Noa)

“Woah, that sounds harsh.” (Shuu)

This is harsher than a new graduate entering a black company, right? At least a typical company wouldn’t be as life-threatening.

“But I like my job. I get to go to different Metros, different cities, get different things, and eat different things. If I do it right, it’s not bad money. I’m just an ordinary [Craftsman] with no special talents, but just like Abe-san, I want to get stronger and earn more and more money.” (Noa)

Noa smiled shyly as she said this.

I bite into the rice cracker and chew on it. Then, as I tried to say something with a grin on my face, I choked up. Spit and pieces of the rice cracker scatter in the night sky like snow dust.

“…I’m thinking of becoming a hunter too. If possible, here in Sugamo.” (Shuu)

I say it again with a serious expression. As if nothing happened.

Even Free Folk who have no family register can obtain a family register of a city if they are registered with the city’s guild branch as a hunter. As a Sugamo citizen, acting as a professional hunter is my fourth choice.

“Is that okay with you? It may be the hardest path for you. I don’t know if you can register with the guild with your Fungal Class hidden in the first place.” (Noa)

“Well, that’s right.” (Shuu)

Of course, it is a more dangerous occupation than others, and above all, the risk that me being a [Itokuri-shi] coming to light will be significantly higher.

Still, it is a path that allows him to make the most of his abilities and experience.

“In today’s world, that’s all I can do. I’ve only been in the business world for a year, and I don’t have much experience working in the fields or in the customer service industry. In that aspect, if I can make use of my five years of experience dealing with Metro Beasts, that would be the best thing for me.” (Shuu)

I am not confident that I can boast that doing rough work is in my nature, but my hands are already stained with blood to the point that I am not sure I can go back to a career in the real world.

At the same time, it is true that there is a part of me that finds joy and pleasure in the practice of hunting Metro Beasts, receiving their blessings, and letting myself grow.

“Well… I don’t have the aspirations like ‘I’m going to be a hero and save the world’ or ‘Hehe, I wanted to see the view from the top’. But I’m sure I’ll get stronger and if look around the Metro and tribes, maybe I’ll find something eventually.” (Shuu)

I get a little excited, carried away by my own words. I want to mock myself for being so vague.

But it is also my true feelings. I am not sure if there is any boy out there who is not fascinated by the word ‘adventure’.

“I also want to go to Nakano Forest.” (Shuu)

“*choke*” (Tamiko)

Tamiko’s cheek pouches were filled with rice crackers.

“In the unlikely event that something goes wrong, Tamiko can do something about it, right?” (Shuu)

“Yef, squeaf!” (Tamiko)

Tamiko smacked her own chest, but perhaps she used the wrong amount of force because pieces of rice crackers splashed into the air. The two of us are quite similar.

Noa just chuckles. Nodding slowly witnessing our wants.

“…Could I join you as a companion as well, Abe-san and Tamiko-san?” (Noa)

“Eh?” (Shuu)

She turns to the front. She leans forward. The angle is dangerous because it makes the valleys peek out.

“If Abe and Tamiko are in trouble, I’ll do something about it.” (Noa)

Tamiko and I look at each other.

“Companions… like a team that hunts together?” (Shuu)

“Yes, we are. Can the three of us form a team?” (Noa)

“Is it okay? Tamiko and I are both amateurs?” (Shuu)

“You two have higher levels than I do. I’ll do my best not to drag you down, please!” (Noa)

To be honest, I appreciate it.

Even though my basic specs are high, I’m a country bumkin and we have a squirrel who doesn’t know anything about this world left or right. It would be very reassuring to have an intelligent and knowledgeable senior hunter there. And if they are an honest, kind, and beautiful girl, that would be worth a hundred and twenty points.

“I’m grateful for that, but is that okay with you, Tamiko?” (Shuu)

“In other words, you’re under me, squeak?” (Tamiko)

“I don’t know what you mean by that.” (Shuu)

“Yes, Sister Tamiko!” (Noa)

“Okay?” (Shuu)

Tamiko seems satisfied. Noa’s eyes are sparkling.

“Thank you… Shuu-san.” (Noa)

Shuu-san.

My heart skip a beat. I can’t help it.

I’m probably red in the face right now. So as not to let her notice it, I turn my eyes toward the city.

When I woke up, I find myself in a world a hundred years in the future, forced to spend my days fighting beasts alone with a squirrel, without knowing why.

After five years of harsh life in the Metro, I finally begin my new life on Earth’s surface.

From a Heisei era office worker

Becoming a Metro survivor

To a hunter of New Tokyo.

From one human and one beast, this time is two humans and one beast.

(I’m looking forward to it.) (Shuu)

(It might be difficult.) (Shuu)

What I carry in my body may be heavier than I thought. I have no idea what the future holds.

Ther thread, which has been secretly connecting for a century—where will it lead in the future?

“…Well, I’ll just act.” (Shuu)

Still, I feel like I can manage.

I feel that two humans and one animal can go anywhere. I’m free to think so.

“Because—the world is just so wide.” (Shuu)

A/N: The long adventure that began in Ootsuka Metro comes to an end, and the Sugamo arc starts.

What awaits Tamiko and Shuu who are aiming to become hunters of Sugamo? And where will the three of them go next? (Follow on the next chapter).